Pacific Palisades vs Bel Air (Santa Monica, Brentwood: crime, house, safe area)

[alicekim22]

Hello.

I'm moving to West LA soon and I would like to gain some opinions from the area experts.
What are the pros and cons for Pacific Palisades and Bel Air?

My top priority is:
1. Top safe area with solid security
2. comparatively easy access to things like groceries, pharmacies, stores, etc.
3. Less traffic to get in and out
4. Cool temperatures

I would very much appreciate your thoughts in advance! ♡

[JustMike77]

Pacific Palisades - Better access to shops (in the "village"), good access to the beach/Malibu, the only way in is via Sunset Boulevard which can be really slow at times. No freeway access. Probably a bit cooler due to beach proximity.

Bel Air - No shopping nearby at all, you'll be shopping in nearby Brentwood. access depends on where you are. EX: off Bel Air Road can be easy access from Sepulveda, if you're up Linda Flora it takes a while to get home. Closer to the 405 if you need freeway access. No beach access.

Safety & security is probably the same. Invest in real good gates/security system.

[alicekim22]

Oh. Thank you JustMike!
Helps a lot...
If you don't mind me asking, where would you like to live between the two?

[vincenze]

Originally Posted by alicekim22

Oh. Thank you JustMike!
Helps a lot...
If you don't mind me asking, where would you like to live between the two?

Jeff Bezos lives in Bel Air.
It's a good area for the rich.

[skyway31]

Bel Air will be warmer and sunnier. But, it will also be more difficult getting in and out of shopping areas assuming you're up in the hills. It seems like the Palisades is the better of the two options presented, though it isn't clear Palisades is the only other such option.

[john3232]

Don't know about Bel Air but my brother who lives in Pacific Palisades visited me a couple ago here in n Az.

He mentioned his car had been broken into four times over the past 18 months. Twice in front of his house, once while he was grocery shopping and another in Venice.

He has lived in the house for 30 years and up until several months ago always parked in the driveway. Now the car stays inside the garage. He also said there has been an increase in "knock-knock” burglaries.

My brother loves living in Pacific Palisades, but he and his neighbors are concerned about the increase in crime. The wealthy living in LA won't be able to keep the riffraff at bay indefinitely.

However, they do have money to hire private security and will probably need it.

[alicekim22]

oh didn't know Pacific Palisades is changing like that... This helped a lot! Thank you so much.

[sidneyinmyeyes34]

I lived in Santa Monica Canyon which is right next to Pacific Palisades in 2005-2012-ish. It was pretty safe for the most part .Although I didn't feel safe at home at times with all the homeless running around and being in wealthy neighborhood in the city some people could break in but they probably won't. Pacific Palisades is kind of seen as more snooty and uptight historically as (Think leave it to beaver) in comparison to Santa Monica or Venice. Even though Santa Monica And Venice for the most part are highly affluent. Venice has a lot crime problems though.I don't know about now but that was more than 12 years ago since I have lived in that area. Things change so you have to check it out for your self.
Bel-Air is another story. Its in another league of its own. The money comparison between Pacific Palisades VS Bel- Air doesn't compare..

[UrbanQuest]

Both in the Hills, but Bel Air is more in the city than Pacific Palisades. Both are pinnacle trophy like communities. Can’t go wrong.

[NORTY FLATZ]

PP has much more ocean air influence, as compared to Bel Air. This makes a huge difference if you have special interest cars/motorcycles. The salt air will attack bare metal/chrome with a vengeance. Also takes longer for paint to dry (but, it dries harder.)
The difference between these in this regard, is "night & day." (Even though the distance is only 7 miles as the crow flies.)